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The Knicks? Bring 'em on

It's looking very likely the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks will be squaring off in a seven-game, first-round series when the NBA playoffs begin next weekend.

If you're a Celtics fan hopeful the Green will enjoy a lengthy postseason stay, you should be rooting for that scenario. Don't get me wrong, beating New York would be no cakewalk. It's just a better option than the alternative.

After Friday night's 109-101 loss to the Miami Heat, the Celtics are just about cemented into the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference with three games left. Boston is three games behind No. 6 Chicago and three games ahead of No. 8 Milwaukee. The Knicks are three games ahead of the Indiana Pacers in the battle for No. 2. Whoever wins that seed would get the C's if they stay at the seven spot.

It's a difficult sell to say the Knicks or the Pacers would be a favorable matchup for Boston. The Celtics (40-39) have been far too mediocre and far too inconsistent to make that claim. With a 13-26 road record this season, and without having home-court advantage, Boston would be an underdog against either team.

But there's just something about the Knicks. You can't trust them. Until we actually see perennial all-star and playoff underachiever Carmelo Anthony take New York past the first round, how can we actually believe it will happen?

The Celtics are the anti-Knicks.

Come late-April, May and June, Boston seems to always prove its worth.

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During the Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce era (beginning in the 2008 playoffs), the Celtics have never lost in the first round. In fact, it was the C's who swept the Knicks in the first round in 2011.

Indiana would pose severe issues for Boston over the course of seven games. The tough-minded Pacers are big, strong, physical, athletic, young and disciplined. They're the best rebounding team in the league (46.1 rebound per game, +5.1) and second-best defensive team, allowing 90.5 points.

While Boston is a respectable 10th in the league in points allowed, it ranks 29th in rebounding. The thought of banging down low with the likes of 7-foot-2 Roy Hibbert and 6-foot-9 David West can't seem appealing to the C's.

They wouldn't have to worry about that against the Knicks, a team that has a borderline obsession with the 3-ball. New York takes a league-high 28.9 threes per contest. No question Pierce and Garnett, both nursing sore ankles, would be quite pleased with seeing an opponent jack up 30 shots from deep instead of attacking the hoop.

The Knicks had a 13-game win streak snapped Thursday. They can be a dangerous team. Anthony and J.R. Smith can each put 30-35 points on the board in a hurry. But would you be scared of them?

No. Because you also know that on two separate occasions since Feb. 6 New York lost five out of six games. The Knicks are streaky to a fault, a product of an aging and injury-prone roster. Jason Kidd, 40, plays 27 minutes per night for N.Y.

Yes, it would be easy to poke holes in the Celtics' foundation as well. But, hey, they're the seven seed, they're supposed to have holes.

I'm guessing the Celtics will be more happy to see the Knicks, than the Knicks will be to see the Celtics.

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